SAN FRANCISCO – The Dodgers went into their biggest game of the year without their best pitcher.

Reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw, who was scheduled to pitch Sunday’s game against the San Francisco Giants, had his start pushed back two days as a result of a hip injury.

Kershaw underwent an MRI on Saturday that revealed inflammation, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. He had a cortisone shot administered later in the day.

The injury is not believed to be serious, Mattingly said. Barring a setback, Kershaw is scheduled to pitch Tuesday in Arizona.

Joe Blanton, who was scheduled to pitch on Tuesday, started Sunday’s game.

Kershaw’s injury comes a day after Matt Kemp was sidelined with shoulder inflammation. Kemp’s status remains day-to-day, and he also could be in the lineup Tuesday, Mattingly said.

Kershaw simulated throwing off a mound and threw up to 90 feet hours before game time.

“He made me promise him yesterday to give him a chance to pitch today,” Mattingly said.

“But listening to the doctors and everything they’re saying and given a chance to think about it and talking with (pitching coach) Rick (Honeycutt) about the rotation going forward, none of it made any sense for him to pitch today.”

Mattingly said he told Blanton on Saturday there was a 50-50 chance he’d pitch Sunday, and he and Kershaw arrived at the ballpark ready to start.

If Kershaw isn’t ready to pitch Tuesday, Stephen Fife or John Ely would go in his place, Mattingly said.

Asked if it had been Game 7 of the World Series, Mattingly said “no question” Kershaw would have pitched.

With Kershaw pitching Tuesday, he’d be lined up for at least five more starts, including the opener of a three-game Oct. 1-3 series against the Giants that closes out the regular season.

“We’re really trying to put him in a position to be able to pitch the rest of the year,” Mattingly said. “We’re 4 1/2 (games) behind (the Giants), we’re a half (-game) out of the wild card and we’ve got 27 games left.

“Obviously, it’s a big game for us, if we can win this game it’s a two-game swing with these guys. It continues to put pressure on St. Louis and whoever’s in front of us, so it’s a big game. But this is all about him having a chance to be healthy the rest of the way and this gives us the best chance.”

Kemp update

Kemp said he experienced no significant soreness from a cortisone shot he had Saturday for what an MRI showed was an inflamed left (non-throwing) shoulder.

Kemp injured it when he crashed into an outfield wall during an Aug. 28 game in Colorado. He said he remains on track to return to the lineup as soon as Tuesday.

“I hope so,” he said. “That’s the plan.”

Missing matchups

With Kershaw and Kemp out of the lineup, the Dodgers missed out on what figured to be extremely favorable matchups.

Kershaw is 1-3 with a 1.74 ERA against the Giants this season and has a 0.66 career ERA at AT&T Park.

Kemp is a career .462 hitter (24 for 52) with three homers against Giants starter Barry Zito (USC/Pierce College).